Hempstead, NY - Senior defender Richard Martinez (Highland, NY) and senior midfielder Rob Youhill (Harrogate, England) were named to the Preseason All-CAA Men's Soccer team in a vote of the league's coaches, it was announced today.
Martinez was a first-team All-CAA selection a year ago for the Pride, and was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-South Atlantic Region team. He was also a second-team All-CAA selection as a sophomore in 2007, and converted the winning penalty kick in the CAA championship game against George Mason as a freshman in 2006.
In addition to his success with the Pride, Martinez has also played for the Puerto Rico National Team, earning five international caps in World Cup qualifying matches in 2008. This past summer, he played for the Long Island Rough Riders of the Premier Development League and earned All-Conference honors.
Youhill, meanwhile, was a second-team All-CAA selection last season, the second year in a row that he has earned that distinction. He has 15 career assists entering the 2009 season, which puts him one shy of tying for fifth place on the Pride's career list. He also had a key role in helping Hofstra to the 2006 CAA championship, scoring Hofstra's lone goal in regulation as the game finished in a 1-1 tie before the Pride won on penalty kicks.
Much like Martinez, Youhill also kept busy playing soccer this summer as he was a member of Great Britain's World University Games team that traveled to Belgrade, Serbia. Youhill played in every game, helping Great Britain reach the semifinals before it fell to Ukraine on penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie. It was his second trip to the World University Games, as he also represented Great Britain in 2007 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Hofstra will open its 2009 season at Stony Brook on Tuesday night for a 7 p.m. contest.
2009 Preseason All-CAA Team
F - Devan Carroll, UNC Wilmington
F - Andrew Hoxie, William and Mary
F - CJ Sapong, James Madison
M - Nathaniel Baako, William and Mary
M - Richard Edgar, George Mason
M - Nane Joseph, Old Dominion
M - Lars Okland, Northeastern
M - Rob Youhill, Hofstra
D - Roger Bothe, William and Mary
D - Richard Martinez, Hofstra
D - Indy Smith, UNC Wilmington
G - Sean Kelley, George Mason
G - Evan Newton, Old Dominion
